All the forwards want me all to themselves - Chapter 3

During this period, Icarus not only had to monitor the training data of the 275 strikers but also treat those who accidentally got injured during practice.

Blue Lock featured a specialized infirmary for these casualties. Whenever someone was injured, the sensors in their suits would quickly capture the pain signal, and under the guidance of the PA system, the player would independently find their way to the infirmary.

Icarus would prescribe some medicine and have them go back to use it regularly on their own. Fortunately, the training in Blue Lock was scientific and reasonable, so Icarus didn’t have to exert much effort.

Except sometimes, when people pushed open the infirmary door and saw him, they would freeze for a few seconds and then ask for his contact information.

Icarus: “…”

Icarus: “Get over here and deal with the injury on your leg. Why on earth do you want a doctor’s contact info?”

The injured player: “What? Such a young doctor?!”

Now, that was something Icarus didn’t like to hear.

“Apologize to my five Ph.D. degrees, will you? I am the doctor. You have a problem with me being young?”

This doctor seems to have a very bad temper.

Usually, if a doctor spoke like that, it might lead to an unpleasant doctor-patient dispute. But strangely, in those moments, the patients would inexplicably blush.

“I’m satisfied. Perfectly satisfied.”

“…Get over here. I’ll prescribe your medicine.”

Icarus took a deep breath. Once the prescription was done, Euan, who had been waiting on the side looking at the patient with impatience, would quickly shoo them away.

“Lord Icarus has other things to do. Leave at once.”

Icarus: “Euan, you’re so blunt. But I like it.”

Some patients would inexplicably try to prolong their stay in the infirmary by chatting. Icarus saw right through them, they definitely wanted to skip training. That won’t do. You are all being screened to become the world’s greatest striker. No skipping training in the infirmary.

Euan’s eyes lit up: “I shall serve Lord Icarus until my dying breath!”

Consequently, word spread through the treated players. Everyone in the loop knew that Blue Lock had a very “good-looking” doctor.

“A good-looking doctor?” Reo Mikage furrowed his brow. “Just good-looking? A doctor’s most important trait is medical skill, isn’t it?”

It sounds a bit unreliable.

“I don’t know, that’s just what I heard,” the informant shrugged.

Passing by them, Chigiri Hyoma caught fragments of the conversation but didn’t take it to heart. Very soon, they would face the match against the strongest team, Team V. If they lost, Team Z would be eliminated. His football career would end right here.

He had just been awakened by Isagi Yoichi rediscovering the thrill of chasing the ball with burning eyes. How could he stop now?

Chigiri’s gaze turned heavy as he secretly set an extra training schedule for himself.

It was dinner time again. Icarus still insisted that Euan bring his meal box to the cafeteria.

After all, Icarus was truly curious about some of them, and surveillance cameras couldn’t follow a specific person 24 hours a day. Scanning the cafeteria, he found both of his targets of interest present. Rin Itoshi sat alone on the left side, while Nagi Seishiro, Reo Mikage, and Zantetsu Tsurugi sat on the right.

After a moment of hesitation, Icarus chose to sit on the side with more people. Since Reo and Nagi had their backs to him, they didn’t notice an extra person sitting two rows away, staring at their backs as “seasoning” for his meal. While Zantetsu noticed him, he didn’t think much of it.

A silhouette slinked into the cafeteria and stood before the trio. Icarus listened for a while and realized this person was likely from Team Z, attempting to sell out his teammates’ secrets for self-preservation.

Truly egoistic enough. But used in the wrong way.

Did he really think that after passing this hurdle, he could live in peace in Blue Lock? Icarus poked at a piece of broccoli on his plate, thinking boredly.

“No need.” Reo Mikage flatly refused once the intent was clear.

“What a pain. Why try so hard?” Nagi Seishiro yawned. “Reo, carry me.”

“We’re leaving, Zantetsu.”

Reo Mikage carried Nagi and turned to leave with a wave. He didn’t care about this person who suddenly appeared to betray his team. To Reo, he didn’t need that information to crush his next opponents.

Then, the departing footsteps were blocked.

Ah, entertainment. Icarus’s eyes lit up.

A dark-blue-haired youth blocked the two and issued a challenge. Icarus turned his head, and Euan instantly understood, handing over a tablet.

“Isagi Yoichi?”

After quickly reviewing the boy’s file, Icarus found nothing special. Average physical stats, seemingly no special talent, he didn’t seem capable of being the one to “activate” Nagi Seishiro.

Icarus felt a bit disappointed. He actually hoped for a sudden genius like Nagi to appear so they could compare their innate gifts. Or perhaps a physical monster who could suppress Nagi’s talent with raw power. Otherwise, Nagi would forever be immersed in his own world of genius, never knowing the meaning of craving or frustration.

Without experiencing failure, he will never have curiosity about victory.

Watching the group depart, Icarus finished his meal in a few bites. Just as he was about to leave, he was suddenly called out.

“Tonight. Again.”

Icarus looked up. Oh ho, it was his little playmate from last night.

Rin Itoshi’s green eyes were filled with an unquestionable demand, as if he would kidnap Icarus if he refused.

“What does ‘tonight again’ mean?” Euan spoke softly beside him.

Crap. I forgot Euan was here. If Euan knew, it meant his brother would know too. For some reason, Nolan didn’t really like him playing football.

“It’s nothing,” Icarus said quickly, cutting Rin off. “Next time. I’ll find you.”

With that, he “greased his soles” and bolted away. Returning to his room, seeing that Euan still wanted to say something, Icarus slammed the door shut. The frustrated Euan was locked outside.

Looking at Icarus’s closed bedroom door, Euan sighed and began diligently tidying the living room. Lord Icarus must have gone to play football in secret again. If Lord Nolan asks, I certainly can’t lie. But if he doesn’t ask, I won’t volunteer the information.

After all, the Lord Icarus who plays football truly glows from head to toe.

The Lord likely thought Euan hadn’t noticed him sneaking out that night. But Euan had been following right behind him the entire time. Euan suddenly stopped his movements, the corners of his lips curling up.

If not for that, how could I have seen such a side of Lord Icarus?

Because he worried he might have been discovered by Euan, a guilty Icarus did not seek out his playmate tonight. He sat at his computer and began dealing with inquiries from his disciples.

Influenced by his human mother, Icarus was obsessed with human medicine. Relying on the superior brain of a vampire, he completed five Ph.D. degrees, including medicine, before joining a research group for further study. He quickly made a name for himself in the human world. Naturally, he hid his identity as a vampire. Traditional vampires wouldn’t get a fever in the brain and run to the human world to be a professional doctor.

In short, Icarus’s little side-business didn’t cause much of a stir in the vampire world, but it drove the human world crazy. The drugs Icarus developed were said to have longevity-inducing effects, which was exactly what wealthy people craved. However, not all rich people could contact him. Coincidentally, Icarus had a few “junior fellow students” in the medical field. Thus, those who couldn’t reach him tried every way possible to reach his juniors just to consult on various difficult cases.

“Guillain-Barré Syndrome…”

With the screen reflected in his eyes, Icarus thought deeply. Still just a middle schooler. I heard he won the national championship and then contracted this disease. It’s basically a career-ender.

Should I save him?

Looking at the boy’s dark blue-purple pupils on the screen, Icarus was dazed for a moment. His gaze drifted to the calendar on the desk. Right now, the Blue Lock project was in its early stages; they were short-staffed everywhere. He didn’t want to use his brother’s power, so he had to handle things himself. If the only doctor in Blue Lock left, what would happen to the project?

He had originally thought of coming to Blue Lock to rest and retire. After a moment of hesitation, Icarus swiped his finger and filed the patient’s dossier under “Pending.”

Maybe later.

Similar time, similar scenario.

Icarus rolled over heavily on his bed and snapped into a sitting position. Not kicking a ball feels like my whole body is out of sorts.

So, he crept out of the room just as before, heading toward a pitch he had selected. This time, he checked the surveillance beforehand and chose a pitch that was absolutely empty. No one should find me now, right?

Though lacking a playmate made the offense-defense duel a bit boring, Icarus felt that playing by himself was better than getting caught on the spot.

The pitch was indeed deserted. Icarus hummed a song as he adjusted the machine assistant.

Electronic Goalie—Let’s go with the most sensitive setting. Ball Direction, Let’s go with “from all directions.” After all, on the pitch, you never know where the ball might appear. Speed Maximum. A vampire’s kinetic vision is no joke. Power Maximum. A great striker’s shot can fracture a goalie’s bones. It’s no playground game out there. It’s only fun if I intercept shots like that.

Satisfied with the settings, Icarus nodded. He stood in the center of the pitch, waiting silently for the balls that could appear from any corner.

Whizz!

The sound of a ball slicing the air came from his back-right. Icarus’s ears twitched. In the moment he spun in mid-air, he adjusted his shooting posture instantly. Without trapping the ball, he struck it with a heavy right volley. The ball soared high and then dipped sharply as it neared the goal, carving a beautiful arc around the electronic goalie.

It was the exact same knuckleball he had competed with Rin Itoshi on last time.

“Ah, this is the feeling! That’s the stuff!” Icarus’s eyes shone.

Soon, a second ball flew in from the diagonal front. Icarus again struck it without trapping, hitting just right of the center-bottom with his inner arch. The ball carved a different curve and plunged into the net behind the goalie.

Soon, the balls on the field became dense. Icarus struck one after another, handling balls fired from every direction. Almost as soon as one ball left his foot, the next arrived in an instant.

Halftime. After firing 50 consecutive shots, Icarus panted lightly. He reached up to brush the hair away from his forehead, revealing a pair of calm black eyes.

Clap, clap, clap.

The sound of applause came from behind. Icarus turned his head. The clapping paused for a second, then resumed.

Icarus saw exactly who was applauding.